pick()

The pick() operator is used to select portions a complex data structure. Pick() can be applied to any valid expression that returns a data structure. The pick() operator and its little language, JSONPath, are discussed in this section. The pick() operator takes two arguments:

• The first argument is a string that represents a JSONPath expression that will select some portion of the data structure.
• The second, optional argument is a Boolean that determines the return type of the result. If true, pick() will always return an array; otherwise, pick() will return whatever is appropriate. The default value is false. Ensuring the result is always an array is useful when pick() is used in a foreach statement.

JSONPath

Stefan Goessner developed JSONPath as an analog to XPath for use with JSON data. The following description is modified from his description of JSONPath. If you're familiar with XPath, the concepts behind JSONPath should be clear.

In KRL, JSONPath expressions give a path to a portion of a KRL data structure. JSONPath expressions are more powerful than the hash paths used in the put(), delete(), and keys() operators.

The root of a JSONPath expression is designated by the dollar symbol ($). Paths use dot notation to reference map keys and array index notation to reference array elements. For example, the following JSONPath expression would reference the title element in the first member of the array with the key book in the structure with the key store:

$.store.book[0].title

JSONPath allows the wildcard symbol (*) for member names and array indices. The recursive descent operator (..), which must be followed by a key, descends through the data structure until the named key is found. For example, the previous example could be rewritten as follows:

$..book[0].title

You can use simple KRL predicates as an alternative to explicit names or indices by using the at symbol (@) for the current object. Filter expressions are given using the question mark. For example, the following selects the titles of books with a price less than 10:

$.store.book[?(@.price < 10)].title

The following table describes various components of JSONPath expressions and gives the analog in XPath for readers familiar with that notation.

Note that there are differences in how the subscript operator works in XPath and JSONPath. Square brackets in XPath expressions always operate on the node set resulting from the previous path fragment. Indices always start at 1. In contrast, JSONPath square brackets operate on the object or array addressed by the previous path fragment. Indices always start at 0.

Examples

The best way to understand the operation of JSONPath expressions is through examples. Suppose you have made the following declaration in KRL:

store_data =
  { "store": {
       "book": [{"author": "Nigel Rees",
                 "title": "Sayings of the Century",
                 "price": 8.95},
                {"author": "Evelyn Waugh",
                 "title": "Sword of Honour",
                 "price": 12.99},
                {"author": "Herman Melville",
                 "title": "Moby Dick",
                 "isbn": "0-553-21311-3",
                 "price": 8.99},
                {"author": "J. R. R. Tolkien",
                 "title": "The Lord of the Rings",
                 "isbn": "0-395-19395-8",
                 "price": 22.99
                }
               ],
       "bicycle": {"color": "red",
                   "price": 19.95}
      }
}

The following table shows the result of various JSONPath expressions operating on store_data:

In KRL, you use the pick() operator to apply JSONPath to a data structure.

prices = store_data.pick("$.store..price")
// prices = [8.95, 12.99, 8.99, 22.99, 19.95]
last_price = store_data.pick("$..book[-1:].price")
// last_price = 22.99
last_price_array = store_data.pick("$..book[-1:].price", true)
// last_price_array = [22.99]

If you're trying to match data with a period (.) in the name, the period will be interpreted as a JSONPath operator unless you escape it with a backslash like so:

bar.pick("$..www\.kynetx\.com[0].text")